She was looking forward to a reunion with her favorite G-boy, but the new people she met were just as special.
Animate
Japan’s biggest anime specialty shop chain warns that not following this advice could turn Christmas into a day of tears.
Specialty shop Animate stays true to its roots as it gets ready to celebrate a big milestone with a big store.
SoraNews24’s otaku reporter heads to one of Tokyo’s biggest anime fan neighborhoods and gets a massive return on his fukubukuro investment.
The case cover hangs from the neck which frees up your hands to trade, display, or easily stow your favorite character goods.
Despite kicking off the new year with a plethora of anime merch, something felt amiss for our Japanese-language reporter’s fukubukuro experience.
Disgruntled 34-year-old woman says she wished the staff had died and Kyoto Animation workers lived.
New 7-Eleven ATMs installed at select Animate locations will feature luscious anime pinup art and compelling lines from top-rate voice actors.
There might be a rare fault in the design, but we have a feeling some fans won’t be exchanging the faulty item as requested.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, the Cardcaptor Sakura franchise is getting a new manga, including a bunch of other tie-in goodies and events this year you don’t want to miss!
With 60 items for just 1,000 yen (US$8.35), Animate’s lucky bag might just be the luckiest of all.
Anime series Yowamushi Pedal has set off on its second season, titled Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road, and its creators have shifted gears with new goods and collaborations to up the game.
Starting with a collaboration with karaoke chain Karaoke no Tetsujin (AKA Kara-Tetsu), the series’ makers also have plans to release men’s boxer shorts, however ironically, at an event targeted for girls. Whether they expect their fangirls to wear men’s undies themselves or are hoping the girls will buy them for their boyfriends, we haven’t got a clue, but we have all the details about this peculiar collaboration after break!
You’ve already been introduced to Yuya Uchida, the attractive worker at the Osaka Nipponbashi branch of Animate, a chain of anime and manga stores in Japan. He has inspired countless Internet debates regarding his status as both an otaku and a hottie, prompting one user to comment, “Hot guys should be banned from watching anime.” We knew we had to go out to Osaka to find this mythical hotaku™ and see for ourselves if he really is as irresistible as the Internet makes him out to be.
Meet Yuya Uchida, part-time employee at Animate, a Japanese chain of large-scale stores that carry a full range of anime and manga-related merchandise. Lately, Yuya has been getting a lot of attention from the Internet and other media for his surprisingly good looks! This anime-loving ikemen (hot guy) is breaking the otaku mold and capturing the hearts of women across the nation. Can a guy be allowed to keep his nerd cred when he happens to be such a looker?




















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Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
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Tokyo’s dedicated Nintendo store finally begins offering its exclusive items online
Japanese shiitake mushroom snacks from Don Quijote, created for people who don’t like mushrooms
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Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
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Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Umamusume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have【Pics】
We ate sushi made from Japan’s most expensive tuna ever【Taste test】
Princess Mononoke magnets return just in time to treat yourself to awesome anime decorations
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Human washing machine pods coming to Japanese hotels【Photos】
Japanese shiitake mushroom snacks from Don Quijote, created for people who don’t like mushrooms
Top 27 ugliest album covers from Yugoslavia 【Photos】
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Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start
Extremely Rare Hermaphrodite Stag Beetle on Display in Chiba Prefecture
What’s a furisode kimono without sleeves? An incredibly elegant wedding dress【Photos】
Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?
Bamboo trees vandalized near Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine, foreign graffiti prevalent
Harajuku’s new permanent Tamagotchi shop is filled with cuteness and a surprising lack of poop
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